Printing control apparatus to control printing operation, printing control system, and methods thereof

Abstract

A printing control apparatus to control a printing operation includes a web server connection unit to connect with a web server of a pre-set address and receive environmental information of an area where the printing apparatus is located, and a controller to transmit a printing control signal corresponding to the received environmental information and printing data to a printing apparatus. Accordingly, a transfer voltage is adjusted according to the environmental information of the area where the printing apparatus is located, so that the effect of the environment on the printing quality can be minimized and thus the printing quality can be improved.

1. A printing control apparatus to be connected with a printing apparatus in an image forming system, comprising:
 a web server connection unit to connect with a web server of a pre-set address and receive environmental information of an area where the printing apparatus is located; and 
 a controller to transmit a transfer voltage control signal of the printing apparatus, corresponding to the received environmental information and printing data, to the printing apparatus, by comparing the received environmental information with reference environmental information, 
 wherein, if the received environmental information is not within an error range of the reference environmental information, the controller adjusts a pre-set transfer voltage control signal and transmits the adjusted transfer voltage control signal to the printing apparatus. 
 
     
     
       2. The printing control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the web server connection unit connects with the web-server when a printing signal is received, when a booting is performed, when a printer driver is executed, or when a pre-set time arrives. 
     
     
       3. The printing control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, if the received environmental information is within the error range of the reference environmental information, the controller transmits the pre-set transfer voltage control signal to the printing apparatus. 
     
     
       4. The printing control apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a user interface to set a web server address and area information; and 
 a storage unit to store the set web server address and the area information. 
 
     
     
       5. The printing control apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the environmental information is one of temperature information, humidity information, pressure information, and altitude information. 
     
     
       6. A method of controlling a printing operation of a printing control apparatus to be connected to a web server and a printing apparatus in an image forming system, the method comprising:
 receiving environmental information of an area where the printing apparatus is located by connecting with a web server of a pre-set address; and 
 controlling a printing operation by transmitting a transfer voltage control signal of the printing apparatus corresponding to the received environmental information and printing data to the printing apparatus, by comparing the received environmental information with reference environmental information, 
 wherein if the received environmental information is not within an error range of the reference environmental information, the controlling further comprises adjusting a pre-set transfer voltage control signal and transmitting the adjusted the transfer voltage control signal to the printing apparatus. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein receiving environmental information comprises connecting with the web server when a printing control signal is received, when a booting is performed, when a printer driver is executed, or when a pre-set time arrives. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein if the received environmental information is within the error range of the reference environmental information, the controlling comprises transmitting the pre-set transfer voltage control signal to the printing apparatus. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein receiving environmental information comprises:
 setting a web server address and area information; and 
 storing the set web server address and the area information. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the environmental information is one of temperature information, humidity information, pressure information and altitude information. 
     
     
       11. A printing control system, comprising;
 a web server; 
 a printing apparatus to perform a printing operation; and 
 a printing control apparatus to receive environmental information about an area where the printing apparatus is located by connecting with the web server, and to control a printing operation by transmitting a printing control signal corresponding to the received environmental information and printing data to the printing apparatus, by comparing the received environmental information with reference environmental information, 
 wherein, if the received environmental information is not within an error range of the reference environmental information, the controller adjusts a pre-set transfer voltage control signal and transmits the adjusted transfer voltage control signal to the printing apparatus. 
 
     
     
       12. A printing control system comprising:
 a printing control apparatus having a controller to select a web server address and area information, to connect with a web server according to the web server address section, to receive environmental information on the area information, to compare the received environmental information with reference environmental information, and to output printing data and a control signal corresponding the comparison; and 
 a printing apparatus to receive the printing data and the control signal corresponding to environmental information, and to perform a printing operation to form an image on a printing medium according to the printing data and the control signal, 
 wherein, if the received environmental information is not within an error range of the reference environmental information, the controller adjusts the control signal and transmits the adjusted control signal to the printing apparatus, in place of the control signal.